16 May 2022

A solitary goal by Township Rollers’ Segolame Boy crushed Jwaneng Galaxy’s hope of defending the Botswana premier league title during a league encounter in Jwaneng on Saturday.

Remaining with three games and 55 points accumulated, Galaxy can no longer surmount the points accumulated by log leaders, Gaborone United who saw off MR Highlanders by a solitary goal as well, to put their tally at 67 points.

The sour reality for Galaxy may have occurred in the 61^st minute when Boy tapped in a cross by Motsholetsi Sikele from the right wing, but in reality, Galaxy likely lost the game earlier in two glaring moments in the game.

About 30 minutes prior to Boy’s goal, Galaxy’s star striker, Thabang Sesinyi shot straight at Rollers goalkeeper, Kabelo Dambe after being set in the open by Wendell Rudath following an excellent move initiated by fellow Namibian international, Marcell Papama.

With 20 goals to his name in the campaign so far and having showed predatory skills for months, many did not expect Sesinyi to miss from such a point blank range, but the miss was just the beginning of what went on to become an unusually poor game by the otherwise evergreen striker.

The second glaring chance came three minutes later when Rudath again found Sesinyi with only Dambe to beat, but the striker instead sent his shot over the bar, under no pressure.

The poor display by Sesinyi saw Galaxy supporters calling for his substitution after he missed another good chance in the second half and with a few minutes of the game remaining, the technical bench seemed to be in agreement with the supporters that their star man did not bring along his scoring boots for the all-important game and they pulled him off for Mpho Kgomo.

With Rollers having looked the better side when the game kick-started, the misses by Sesinyi were a pain to Galaxy supporters as they happened when Galaxy was back into the game and looked more threatening, especially on the right wing where Rudath was causing havoc every time he surged forward.

In his threatening moves, the Namibian was twice felled by Rollers defenders in the box in what Galaxy technical bench and supporters believed were penalties.

Galaxy also failed to take advantage of their first half superiority as Rollers was absent from the game, with Simisani Mathumo being forced to time and again make heavy outfield clearances under pressure.

The pressure was lifted by Boy in the 61^st when he beat Galaxy keeper, Ryan Brown at close range.

An undeserved lead as many thought, but Popa proved that timing was more vital than dominance as the solitary goal went on to prove all the difference.

GU now has only their crosstown rivals, Rollers chasing them.

Moya Goleele will have a chance to shake Rollers off in their mid-week fixture against Galaxy.

The game was postponed back then when Galaxy was still campaigning in the CAF Champions League.

Moya Goleele will go into the game in high spirits as they will be well aware that maximum points will earn them the championship. ENDS